Insulin-like molecules in Momordica charantia seeds

J Ethnopharmacol. 1986 Jan;15(1):107-17. doi: 10.1016/0378-8741(86)90106-6.

Abstract

Decorticated Momordica charantia seeds were extracted and processed by a method which was developed originally for the purification of insect and annelid insulins. Essentially, the method entailed HCl--ethanol extraction, neutralization with NH4OH, gel filtration on Sephadex G-50, ion exchange chromatography on CM Sepharose CL-6B and desalting on Sephadex G-10. Of the seven fractions collected, three fractions were obtained with antilipolytic and lipogenic activities in isolated adipocytes and one fraction with only lipogenic activity. The data indicate that molecules with insulin-like bioactivity are present in Momordica charantia seeds.

MeSH terms

  • Adipose Tissue / metabolism
  • Animals
  • China
  • Chromatography, Ion Exchange
  • Cricetinae
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Hemolysis / drug effects
  • Insulin / analysis*
  • Insulin / pharmacology
  • Lipid Metabolism
  • Plants, Medicinal / analysis*

Substances

  • Insulin